The Art Of Accessories: The Brands To Know Now
MANU Atelier
Sisters Beste and Merve Manastir are no strangers to the artistry required to create a cult brand. Their father, Adnan, is one of the oldest leather craftsmen in Turkey, having worked for over 5 decades in Istanbul. Adnan is MANU Atelier's secret weapon - he heads the team of artisans who work by hand to craft the brand's signature sculptural, candy-coloured designs in quality Turkish leather. What's even better? The collection of bags and shoes costs but a fraction of the price you'd pay for other luxury goods.
Petit Kouraj
A leap of faith was all Nasrin Jean-Baptiste needed. The former stylist of Alicia Keys named her collection after what it took for her to get started - Petit Kouraj means 'little courage' in creole. Jean-Baptiste draws on her Haitian heritage for her line of macramé-fringed carryalls, which come in vibrant colours inspired by the beauty of the Caribbean. Working in collaboration with D.O.T Haiti, a community organisation that provides vocational training, each bag is made from responsibly-sourced organic cotton, leather, and rayon.
Medea
Named after the 1969 film by Pier Paolo Pasolini on the mythological Greek sorceress, Medea is the brainchild of Italian twins Camilla and Giulia Venturini. The sisters give the everyday shopping bag a major upgrade, transforming it from a commonplace item to one of luxury. Rendered in suede or calfskin sourced from Verona, the core design comes in a mind-boggling range of sizes and colours. Not convinced? Just ask Rihanna, Gigi Hadid, Priyanka Chopra, or Paloma Elsesser, who've al been spotted toting Medea.
Nicole Saldaña
Funky and chunky are how Nicole Saldaña would describe her eponymous line of footwear. Fabricated in Portugal using Italian raw materials, her collection of lug-soled shoes is part polished and part punk, a combination that has won the hearts of fashionistas all over, Rihanna and Leandra Medine of Man Repeller included. We would expect nothing less from the Parsons-trained, Opening Ceremony and Kenzo alum, who endearingly designs and names each shoe after one of her best friends.
First seen in the October 2019 issue of L'Officiel Singapore
